IT'S a soap opera storyline that could have won prizes for Coronation Street's top writers - if they'd thought of it first.

Les Battersby's mum finds herself on cloud nine after falling head over heels in love with the man of her dreams, who gave her a home following a devastating flood.

But these pictures of their fairytale, Corrie-style wedding are not future scenes from an episode of the hit show.

For the real-life mum of actor Bruce Jones, who plays Street character Les, created her own happy ending when she tied the knot with the friend who helped her when she was left homeless by a deluge in October.

Irene, 75, who married John Bates, 78, at Rochdale Register Office on Friday said: "We've known each other for 17 years, but it was the flood that really brought us together. "John really helped me after my home was left badly damaged.

"I was swept off my feet - by him, not the flood - and we decided it was time to get married."

John looked after Irene after the living room of her terraced house in Heywood was left knee-deep in water following the torrential downpour. She was forced to quit her home and was devastated because she was unable to watch Bruce in her favourite show on her soaked TV set.

But John let her stay at his house following the domestic disaster and they got on so well that they eventually decided to become man and wife - a script that would have been perfect for television.

John said: "Even when you get to our age, you can't give up on finding love. Life still goes on when you get older. Why should the young ones have all the fun?"

Bruce, who finished work early so her could give his mum away, said: "It was my mum's day today. She took centre stage.

"I was just in the background really - I was only an extra. But it was nice to be there for her and and it was an honour to give her away."